News & Press Releases: January to March 2008
News and information from January to March 2008.
UWE Investigate Evolving Swarm Robots
Network member Professor Alan Winfield, from Bristol Robotics Laboratory, is leading research as a partner of 'Symbrion', a ground breaking new European funded project, into how swarms of robots can evolve and adapt into different organisms based on bio-inspired approaches.
The project aims to develop the ways in which swarms of robots can work together and to eventually apply these principles to real-world situations, such as search and rescue functions in collapsed buildings.
Science and Engineering Ambassadors Awards
The work of the Open University Robotics Outreach Group was recognised at a Science and Engineering Ambassadors (SEAs) Celebration and Awards Evening for the West Midlands, held at the Enginuity Centre in Shropshire on Friday 7th March.
Yvonne Baker, Chief Executive of STEMNET, presented the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Science and Engineering Ambassadors Programme to Dr Ashley Green, who has been a member of the Robotics Outreach Group since July 2002.
Ashley will be representing the West Midlands at the National SEAs Awards 2008 Reception in the House of Lords on Tuesday 18th March.
Making Science Fun for Everyone
On the 20 February 2008, 37 researchers with expertise in robotics, animatronics and artificial intelligence delighted the busy half-term crowd at At-Bristol with a variety of robot activities. The event was a finale to a 3-day workshop, funded through the EPSRC Partnerships for Public Engagement scheme where the researchers had been working with experts in science communication and the media.
Claire Rocks from the Science Communication Unit who organises the workshops explains, "The three day course at At Bristol will afford young researchers some time to consider how they might communicate science to a wider audience. They will learn about conception of ideas, funding, evaluation and running events".
Delegates at the workshop took part in a number of themed workshops to develop talks, demonstrations and activities to engage the public; some delegates were involved in a live blog which documented the whole thing - see http://wwrobots.wordpress.com/
The workshop forms part of the existing 'Walking with Robots' programme and it is hoped that the workshop delegates will use the network to continue to engage the public about their work.
Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy Conference
Network members Owen Holland, Noel Sharkey and Claire Rocks attended a conference in London organised by the Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy. The conference discussed issues surrounding Robots and Rights: will artificial intelligence change the meaning of human rights? The speakers, Dr Nick Bostrum, Professor Steve Torrance and network member Professor Kerstin Dautenhahn explored the ethical issues that arise when considering a robot as only a machine, as a sentient being or something in between. For further reading please see the forthcoming AI & Society Special Issue on Ethics and Artificial Agents.
First Lego League 2008: "Climate Connections"
The "winds of change are blowing" and with them comes FIRST LEGO League's 2008 Climate Connections Challenge! Find out why many experts believe the earth's climate is changing and how these changes impact you and our planet. The causes, contributions, and consequences are all interconnected and the experts are telling us to "think globally - act locally." People, resources, and local actions need to be united to establish a global game plan. Do FIRST LEGO League teams have what it takes to make these global Climate Connections?